Campus Visit FAQs

Planning your visit

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Where do I go for my tour?

Your campus tour will depart from the Margaret S. Sugden Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is located on your right-hand side as you enter campus from the main entrance. It will be just past the Parking Information Booth. Please note: If you are travelling from the north on Ben Hill Griffin Parkway do not use the FGCU Lake Pkwy Entrance - the main entrance will be the next light. For directions to our campus please click here.

We currently only are able to offer tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 10 a.m. only on select Saturdays. If you are unable to attend during these times, please consider participating in a self-guided tour where you can explore campus at your own pace.

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Are weekend tours offered?

We do offer tours on select Saturdays at 10 a.m. throughout the year. Please note during the summer months (May-August) we only offer one Saturday tour date a month. We also host our Eagle EXPO Open House every October and February on the third Saturday of the month.

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Do I need to bring anything with me to the tour?

Definitely have your confirmation email handy and be sure to bring your parking permit with you. Remember, Florida weather can be unpredictable therefore we recommend guests carry a personal water bottle and an umbrella.

As you can imagine, because Fort Myers is a popular vacation destination, there are many options for lodging. We have created two lists of hotels in the Fort Myers area. If you are looking for the closest to campus please click here. If you are looking for a hotel in the surrounding area, perhaps by the beach, please click here.

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Are there restaurants or places to eat on campus?

We have several dining locations available if you want to eat while you are on campus. Our all-you-care-to-eat dining hall, SoVi Dining, located in South Village, is a popular location to experience a “true campus dining experience.” There are additional dining facilities on campus including various fast-food chains. For a complete list visit the FGCU Dining webpage.

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How close are you to the beach?

The Gulf of Mexico and our local popular beaches are about a 45-minute drive (depending on traffic) from campus. However, if you are looking for sand and water, you can visit our beach on campus in North Lake Village.

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Will tours still be held in inclement weather?

Our tours are held rain or shine. Weather in Southwest Florida is especially unpredictable in the summer months. Please come prepared for inclement weather. Florida summer storms tend to bring intense lightning with them. Every effort will be made by your FGCU Tour Guide to stay indoors during your tour when lightning is present. If you would prefer to reschedule your tour, we will be happy to schedule you for a future available date. In cases of Tropical Storms and Hurricanes, the FGCU Welcome Center will operate as per the direction of the University’s Emergency Advisory Council.

Reserving your visit

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Will I receive confirmation of my reservation?

Yes, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address listed on the reservation form within 48 hours of your request. Be sure to monitor your SPAM/Junk folders as well. If you have not received your confirmation email within 72 hours, please email the Campus Visit Coordinator at cwethington@fgcu.edu with the student’s name, requested visit date and email address the confirmation should be sent to.

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Do I need a parking permit?

While you will not need a parking pass for the Welcome Center parking lot, if you desire to travel to main campus before or after your tour a parking pass will be required. You will find your parking permit attached to your confirmation email. If you did not recieve one or have lost it, please email cwethington@fgcu.edu with your name and tour date and another will be sent to you.

If you forget to bring your permit with you on the day of your visit or do not have access to a printer, you can pick up a Visitor Parking Pass from the Welcome Center front desk.

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I tried to reserve a spot for the visit online, but the date that I want is not available; why not?

There are a few reasons a date may not be available -the tour for your selected date may have reached capacity, the University might be closed or the Welcome Center may not be offering tours due to exam weeks or training. Please keep in mind some dates do fill quickly and you should register as early as possible.

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Can I make an appointment with a specific department during my visit?

Admissions representatives will be available at the Welcome Center to speak with you before and after your tour and will happily answer any questions regarding your admissions and the university. No appointment is necessary.

If you wish to speak with a program representative in specific academic or athletics program, please contact these departments directly to schedule an appointment:

Athletic Staff can be reached here. To schedule an appointment for your degree or program of interest click here and select Faculty & Staff Directory via the individual program's homepage.

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What if I need to change or cancel my reservation?

If you need to make any changes to or cancel your reservation you can simply email the Campus Visit Coordinator Courtney at cwethington@fgcu.edu or call 239.590.7982.

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What if I am running late and cannot reschedule?

Because we operate a partial driving tour and partial walking tour, we are not always able to 'catch up' late guests with the tour groups on campus. If a 'catch up' is not available, we will be happy to reschedule your tour or help you take a self-guided tour of campus.

About the tour

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Who gives the campus tours?

Our campus tours are led by our FGCU Tour Guides. Get to know our guides before you arrive by visiting their webpage.

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Will I see a residence hall on the tour?

Yes, we do have a model suite in South Village (Freshman housing) available on campus. If you are interested in seeing another style of housing, we recommend visiting us during Eagle EXPO open house which will be the third Saturday in October and Februrary each year. You are also welcome to explore photos and floor plans at the Office of Housing and Residence Life's webpage.

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How large are the tour groups?

Because we utilize a tour bus for a portion of our tour, we limit our groups to 26 participants.

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How long is the tour and what will it include?

The campus tour will take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. The tour includes visiting our athletics facilities, main campus (academic buildings, student plaza and student union) and a walkthrough of a model suite in South Village Freshman housing.

Group Tours

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What is considered to be a group tour?

Group tours can be arranged for 11 or more guests. Typically group tour reservations are made for high school or other college bound groups.

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When are group tours offered?

We currently offer group tours at 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 12 p.m. on Fridays.

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Do we need a reservation for a group tour?

Yes. In order to provide enough guides for your group, reservations are needed for all group tours and must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance of the desired date of your visit. Requested dates are not guaranteed until the group has successfully submitted their completed Group Tour Expectations form and the group has received their confirmation email from the Coordinator of Campus Visits.

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How do I schedule a group tour?

You can schedule a group tour by submitting our reservation form here or by contacting our Campus Visit Coordinator at cwethington@fgcu.edu.

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Are there any restrictions on grade levels for group tours?

Special group tours are limited to high school and college bound students (grades 9-12) of up to 100 people. Transfer student groups will also be accommodated. Local community organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have a group of students younger than high school age interested in visiting campus, you may visit Florida Gulf Coast University on your own by participating in a self-guided walking tour. Self-Guided brochures, as well as student information packets, can be picked up from the Welcome Center front desk on the date of your visit. Please let us know of your visit ahead of time to allow for packet preparation. The Welcome Center is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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How long do group tours last?

Group tours are 1 hour and 30 minutes long, but can be modified to fit your group's time constraints.

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Who gives the group tour?

Our campus tours are led by our FGCU Tour Guides. Get to know our guides before you arrive by visiting their webpage.

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What if I need to change or cancel my reservation?

If you need to update or cancel your Group Tour Reservation please contact the Campus Visit Coordinator at cwethington@fgcu.edu or 239.590.7982 as soon as possible.